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potassium cyanide
noun
: a very poisonous crystalline salt KCN used especially in gold and silver extraction from ore
Examples of potassium cyanide in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The victims ingested Extra Strength Tylenol capsules that was later learned to be laced with potassium cyanide, a highly toxic chemical asphyxiant that interferes with the body's ability to use oxygen and causes rapid death.
—Chris Eberhart, Fox News, 12 Aug. 2023
Lab results revealed that many of the pills had been swapped out with potassium cyanide tablets.
—Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 26 Sep. 2022
On March 15, when Angela Craig was hospitalized for the final time, one of James Craig's business partners told a nurse about the potassium cyanide delivery and how there was no need for it at their dental practice, prompting the nurse to contact police, according to the affidavit.
—Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 12 July 2023
The office manager contacted another colleague with information about the potassium cyanide package after Angela went to the hospital a third time with the same symptoms, according to the warrant.
—Daniella Silva, NBC News, 23 Mar. 2023
In September 1982, seven Chicago-area residents died after swallowing Tylenol capsules laced with potassium cyanide.
—Christy Gutowski, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2023
For instance, Nolan shows Oppenheimer, as a student at Cambridge, injecting potassium cyanide into an apple belonging to a professor who humiliates and punishes him for poor laboratory technique—apparently to no consequence.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 26 July 2023
He was accused of killing Angela, the mother of his six children, by dosing her with potassium cyanide between March 6 and March 15.
—Michael Lee Simpson, Peoplemag, 13 July 2023
While Angela Craig was hospitalized again from March 9 to March 14, James Craig allegedly ordered the highly lethal chemical compound potassium cyanide, which was delivered to his dental practice on March 13, according to the affidavit.
—Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 12 July 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'potassium cyanide.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1866, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of potassium cyanide was
in 1866
Dictionary Entries Near potassium cyanide
Cite this Entry
“Potassium cyanide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/potassium%20cyanide. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
Kids Definition
potassium cyanide
noun
: a very poisonous salt used especially to obtain gold and silver from ore
Medical Definition
potassium cyanide
noun
: a very poisonous crystalline salt KCN
More from Merriam-Webster on potassium cyanide
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about potassium cyanide
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